TNMU in the International Educational and Scientific Project SU-CARE: New Opportunities for the Development of the Prosthetics and Orthotics Educational Program

I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University continues to actively expand the horizons of international cooperation and implement advanced global standards in the training of rehabilitation specialists. Recently, TNMU representatives, within the framework of the international SU-CARE project, made a working visit to Sweden, a country recognized as one of the world’s leaders in prosthetics and orthotics.

The international SU-CARE project (Swedish-Ukrainian Collegial Assistance for Rehabilitation Education) is organized by Jönköping University in partnership with Protez Hub Charity Foundation and brings together Swedish and Ukrainian institutions with a shared goal: ensuring the sustainable development of prosthetic and orthotic care.

Our university was represented by Tetiana Bakaliuk, guarantor of the educational and professional program “Prosthetics and Orthotics,” and Iryna Kamyshna, Professor of the Department of Medical Rehabilitation.

The main purpose of the visit was to study the operational experience of leading rehabilitation clinics and high-tech prosthetic companies, as well as to integrate the best European practices into TNMU’s new master’s program in Prosthetics and Orthotics.

The visit program was highly intensive and included major production and clinical facilities. Project participants visited global industry leaders such as Ottobock and Fillauer. Exploring their production lines provided an opportunity to gain detailed insight into the development of modern prosthetic components and individualized patient solutions.

Visits to Embla Medical and Lindhe Xtend opened new perspectives in understanding the ergonomics and adaptability of prosthetic systems, which are critically important for improving the quality of life of people with limb loss.

A particularly inspiring part of the trip was the visit to Lindhe Xtend and a personal meeting with its founder, Christoffer Lindhe. His story is an example of extraordinary resilience: after losing three limbs in an accident in 2006, he not only returned to active sports but also became an inventor. Having personally experienced the need for more advanced prosthetic solutions, he founded Lindhe Xtend to develop technologies that help him and thousands of others overcome everyday challenges.

Лекція Christoffer Lindhe.

Another strategic highlight was the visit to Sahlgrenska University Hospital. The delegation had the opportunity to observe the full continuum of patient care—from diagnostics and the development of customized orthotic devices to complex surgical interventions and subsequent prosthetic fitting. The Swedish colleagues’ experience in integrating academic science with clinical practice will serve as a foundation for TNMU’s clinical training base.

The educational component of the project was centered at Jönköping University. At the School of Health and Welfare, TNMU representatives participated in a series of lectures and workshops focused on quality assurance in higher education.

Jönköping University is one of the world’s leading centers for the education of prosthetists and orthotists. Therefore, collaboration with this institution promotes professional exchange, the implementation of European standards, and the advancement of modern prosthetics and orthotics education in Ukraine.

Participation in the SU-CARE project is not only an exchange of experience but also a concrete step toward modernizing the educational process at our university. The acquired knowledge of innovative materials, digital scanning methods, and international quality standards will be integrated into the curricula of master’s students specializing in Prosthetics and Orthotics.

We sincerely thank our Swedish partners for their openness and willingness to collaborate. Special gratitude is extended to Antonina Kumka, Director of the Protez Hub Charity Foundation, for the invitation to participate in the SU-CARE project; to the team at Jönköping University for the excellent organization of the meetings; and to the administration of I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University for their active support in implementing this important initiative.